Math Is Fun Forum
You are not logged in.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
#26 2013-07-04 02:24:32
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
That quote quote is not correct. According to Wikipedia the GCD or HCF can be extended to rationals ( fractions ).
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#27 2013-07-04 02:24:58
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
So.....How is it done ???
Offline
#28 2013-07-04 02:29:09
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
There are algorithms to compute the GCD (HCF). But for these problems they are not necessary.
Look at the example you gave.
1/2 and 1/6
If you take the smaller of the two and divide both 1 / 2 and 1 / 6 by it what do you get?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#29 2013-07-04 02:34:30
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
but I'm not sure of understanding what I'm doing 
Last edited by Al-Allo (2013-07-04 02:35:00)
Offline
#30 2013-07-04 02:50:31
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
Hi;
You need help with that division?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#31 2013-07-04 02:52:20
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
Hi;
You need help with that division?
Why, my answer isn't correct ?
Offline
#32 2013-07-04 02:58:46
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
You answer is correct, but then you said you did not understand what you were doing. Which part?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#33 2013-07-04 03:01:24
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
Well, I don't understand how we find a factor of two fractions, that's what xD So, I wasn't sure how dividing my two fractions by 1/6 would give me my answer to my initial question... Thank you for your help
Offline
#34 2013-07-04 03:03:19
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
If you have two numbers or fractions what is the biggest number that can go into the smaller number?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#35 2013-07-04 03:05:44
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
the biggest comon divisor
Offline
#36 2013-07-04 03:13:11
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
Say you have 18 and 6. The smaller number is 6. if you divide both numbers by the smaller number you get 1 and 3. How do you now know that you have found the GCD?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#37 2013-07-04 03:16:30
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
because you took the smallest number between the two and it went even in the biggest number
Offline
#38 2013-07-04 03:17:47
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
But how do you know there isn't a larger factor?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#39 2013-07-04 03:27:58
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
But how do you know there isn't a larger factor?
Not sure what other explanation I can give 
Offline
#40 2013-07-04 03:29:09
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
Anyway, the reason why I asked you how to find a common factor of two fractions was because of this...
Offline
#41 2013-07-04 03:33:31
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
The reason you know you found the gcd is becuase the GCD is the biggest number that goes into both. When you use the smaller one you know you have the biggest one obviously for the smaller. If it goes into the larger you know there can be nothing bigger because it will not go into the smaller number.
And -2cd is a common factor of those two monomials.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#42 2013-07-04 03:37:02
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
But you said earlier that neither -2cd or 2cd was good.....
Offline
#43 2013-07-04 03:39:52
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
As the GCD we do not know yet but as a factor it is okay.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#44 2013-07-04 03:43:44
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
As the GCD we do not know yet but as a factor it is okay.
Ah ok. Still, as I see, I'm lacking knowledge of basic things xD Oh well, Atleast I can continue to learn about it.
Offline
#45 2013-07-04 03:49:01
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: factoring a polynomial
Hi;
I have to go offline until later see you then.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#46 2013-07-04 03:51:04
- Al-Allo
- Member
- Registered: 2012-08-23
- Posts: 324
Re: factoring a polynomial
Bye Bye ! Thank you again!
Offline
#47 2013-07-04 04:39:55
- {7/3}
- Member
- Registered: 2013-02-11
- Posts: 210
Re: factoring a polynomial
my old textbook says gcd(a/b,c/d) = gcd(a,c)/lcm(b,d)
Last edited by {7/3} (2013-07-04 20:48:20)
There are 10 kinds of people in the world,people who understand binary and people who don't.
Offline